Waiting Game
Despite being a man of few words, Jethro Gibbs was not a man of few friends. He made alliances carefully, picking and choosing his friends and allies. Because of the occasional bottle of bourbon, the phone number of an ex-girlfriend, the handmade Christmas present, he had friends at all levels in all agencies. More than a few times in his life he’d been grateful, but never quite so much as he was now.
IA and OPR were holding off their hearings into Jenny’s conduct. Somehow he’d convinced them she wasn’t able to work so why should they bother trying to fire her. He knew it only gave them more time to dig up ammunition on her, but he’d seen the files. Having friends in the right places had given him access to what he needed. So he knew what she was in for. The worst stain on her record was the killing of Rene Beniot, but the CIA had given her their coveted get-out-of-jail-free pass and any subsequent violence in the wake of his death could be chalked up to self-defense.
Clarke’s rather idiotic internet ramblings about Jenny’s health and her involvement in the post-Benoit cases had little to do with Jenny and more to do with a lack of understanding of professionalism of the techno-generation. Her own internet postings about their relationship showed a lack of judgment but there was little that was fireable or that wouldn’t even make it past a senate confirmation hearing. Her health was the issue, he knew, and they would use it to get rid of her. Given Jenny’s current mental state, he knew she would take them up on it, and he needed to avoid that. Despite her, at times, questionable choices she was devoted to NCIS and was the best option of all potential directorial candidates. In six months, she’d wake up and regret resigning or allowing them to force her out and she wouldn’t have some recourse for return. So he needed to stall for time.
If only she trusted Heather. Under any other circumstance, he knew Heather could help stabilize Jenny. But right now, especially with the new ring on Heather’s finger, getting the two of them together would just be a bad idea. So he had to rely on her reaching out to him, on Alex (who he knew did care for her) and possibly Clarke, who was not exactly the best person for the job. But he’d take what he could get. Jenny had to work through things as much on her own as she did with others.
So he stayed close, keeping an eye on the Acting Director, making sure new groundwork was not being laid that would end up working against Jenny. He kept an eye on his team, silencing mutiny with mere looks. Now wasn’t the time to goof off. The agency was suddenly under a spotlight and one misstep more, they’d all be looking for work.
IA and OPR were holding off their hearings into Jenny’s conduct. Somehow he’d convinced them she wasn’t able to work so why should they bother trying to fire her. He knew it only gave them more time to dig up ammunition on her, but he’d seen the files. Having friends in the right places had given him access to what he needed. So he knew what she was in for. The worst stain on her record was the killing of Rene Beniot, but the CIA had given her their coveted get-out-of-jail-free pass and any subsequent violence in the wake of his death could be chalked up to self-defense.
Clarke’s rather idiotic internet ramblings about Jenny’s health and her involvement in the post-Benoit cases had little to do with Jenny and more to do with a lack of understanding of professionalism of the techno-generation. Her own internet postings about their relationship showed a lack of judgment but there was little that was fireable or that wouldn’t even make it past a senate confirmation hearing. Her health was the issue, he knew, and they would use it to get rid of her. Given Jenny’s current mental state, he knew she would take them up on it, and he needed to avoid that. Despite her, at times, questionable choices she was devoted to NCIS and was the best option of all potential directorial candidates. In six months, she’d wake up and regret resigning or allowing them to force her out and she wouldn’t have some recourse for return. So he needed to stall for time.
If only she trusted Heather. Under any other circumstance, he knew Heather could help stabilize Jenny. But right now, especially with the new ring on Heather’s finger, getting the two of them together would just be a bad idea. So he had to rely on her reaching out to him, on Alex (who he knew did care for her) and possibly Clarke, who was not exactly the best person for the job. But he’d take what he could get. Jenny had to work through things as much on her own as she did with others.
So he stayed close, keeping an eye on the Acting Director, making sure new groundwork was not being laid that would end up working against Jenny. He kept an eye on his team, silencing mutiny with mere looks. Now wasn’t the time to goof off. The agency was suddenly under a spotlight and one misstep more, they’d all be looking for work.